The leader of Brent LBC has urged other councils to act against payday lenders. Cllr Muhammed Butt wants to make Brent a payday lender-free zone and has written to London mayor Boris Johnson asking him to promote a capital-wide ban throughout councils and public bodies. Speaking after Unison urged councils to back its nationwide network of credit unions, he said: ‘Too many people have already been hoodwinked by slick, expensive advertising and gimmicks when there are more affordable and better options, such as credit unions, available. ‘Councils shouldn't stand idly by while these legal loan sharks grind down those in need into spirals of depression, debt and dependence.'